The Wallflower's Revenge

AWR Chapter 26: Ley-lusting provocation

The next day, Leylah felt nervous as soon as she woke up. As she opened her eyes, the next thing she wanted to look for was her dad.

She hurried downstairs and she saw her dad preparing their breakfast. He looked calm and composed as usual. It made Leylah worried even more because she couldn't easily read what was going on in his mind.

"Dad?"

"Sit down and eat your breakfast."

"Where's mom?" She asked as she looked around.

"She's still not feeling well. I have to take care of her." As soon as she heard those words, she glanced at the wall clock. It was exactly 6:00 a.m.

"Dad, about what we talked about last night…"

"I will just go to your school after I attend to your mom's needs."

"How is she by the way?"

"She's burning hot with fever. If her temperature gets worse, I might rush her to the hospital within the day."

Leylah looked at her dad's eyes. He might look tough but she could see the worried expression on his face whenever her mom's involved.

"Will she be okay, dad?"

"I believe so, dear. God is always good and we should always believe in his daily miracles."

"She's not yet feeling well since yesterday, right?"

"Yes. I do hope that she'll recover soon. The hospital is the last place I ever wish to visit."

"I'll better get going fast, dad." Leylah finally got up after munching a sandwich and gulping her daily hot milk chocolate mix.

"Please take care. I'll just drop by your school later." She swallowed as soon as she heard those words. She knew that he was dead serious when he said those words.

As soon as she stepped into their classroom, she still couldn't escape the judgemental stare of her other classmates. She looked down instead as she secretly clenched her fists. She felt alone but she never wanted anyone to feel that she was being weak or anything like that.

"Hey classmates, our teacher will not be here because of a very important meeting." Ameliah, one of Eveelia's minions, stood in front to share the good news. Leylah was about to stand up to leave their classroom when she felt a sudden tap of a palm on her back.

"Ouch!" She reacted but almost everyone in the class laughed out loud instead of sympathizing with her.

She tapped her back and she instantly knew it. She got that piece of paper on her back to see the message that was written especially for her.

"100% certified b***h. Leylust." One of her classmates even read the message aloud for her to hear clearly. It was followed by a resounding laugh from Eveelia and her friends.

She could hear most of her classmates murmuring to each other.

"What do you want, Eveelia?"

"Hmmm, let me think about it, bitch." She answered with a grin. She even emphasized the last word in front of her face as she was near to her.

"b***h?" She asked and she unexpectedly turned her gaze to Lea, who looked at her with a mocking stare.

"Whoa there...you have no idea of what this is all about? Oh, c'mon!" Eveelia said as she laughed out loud. She's even clapping her hands.

"Please leave me alone! All of you!" Leylah started to cry and everyone booed her even more.

"Wow, is that your last resort? Crying? You never change, you know."

"I am not what you think! You can call me names all you want but leave me alone!" Leylah pushed Eveelia so that she was able to step backward, enough for Leylah to escape by going outside of their room.

"Everyone, go back to your proper seats. We're about to start our class." Mrs. Williams, their literature teacher, said as soon as she entered the room.

Lea looked at Ameliah and Eveelia with a confused look. Ameliah grinned and Eveelia raised her eyebrows as she smiled.

"W-We have a class?"

"Why not? Mrs. Williams? Are you crazy? Even if the world shakes, she will still have her class." They whispered to Lea. She glanced at the door and heaved a sigh.

"Are you serious right now? Leylah went outside…"

"Don't worry about Leylah. She can take care of herself, right, girl?" Eveelia said as she high-fived Ameliah. They giggled quietly because of what was happening.

"Well, number one spot no more. I can tell that she's really stupid."

----

Leylah ran as fast as she could, outside their room. She feels like everyone is looking at her, but she doesn't care anymore. All she wanted was to escape from being bullied by her classmates and be in a place where nobody would ever bother her.

She looked around. She was hoping to see her boyfriend Walter despite everything, but she couldn't find him anywhere. She bit her lower inner lip until a smile formed her lips. She suddenly had an idea.

She slowly tiptoes as she walks to the school building where Walter was having a class with her classmates. She looked through the window and she spotted Walter right away. It was their break and she saw him talking to some of his classmates. Three girls were surrounding him and they looked so happy together. She closed her fists and left the place.

She decided to go to the library instead. It's a bit far from their classroom but she didn't care. All she wants is to reach a place where she could find solace and peace.

"Are you not having classes right now?" Miss Eva, the librarian, asked her with a worried look.

"No, Miss Eva. Mrs. Williams told us that she'll not have classes with us today."

"Hmm, how is that possible? Where did you get the information that she was not going to have a class with your section?"

"My classmates told me…"

"You better go back, Leylah. She was here ten minutes ago. She even told me that she'd have a surprise quiz for your section as she was reading some books about literature."

"What?" Her heart started to race. She met Mrs. Williams, their strictest teacher of all.

"Missing her class should be the last thing that you'll ever do."

"I know, Miss Eva! Thank you so much for this one!" She grabbed her bag and ran as fast as she could.

When she was almost approaching their classroom, she fell to the ground and her cheek and knees were badly bruised. Many students laughed so hard even if there were drops of blood spilling on the concrete ground already.

Leylah cried as she tried to get up but she couldn't because she felt helpless. Pure humiliation and what happened couldn't encourage her to even get up and hold her face high.

She never moved for a minute when, suddenly, someone tapped her. When she looked up, Walter was offering a hand. She slowly took it and Walter gently wiped her knee with his handkerchief and pressed it because it is continuously bleeding.

"You need to go to the clinic," Walter told her as she was writhing with pain.

"I-I'm okay...you don't have to bother doing all of this."

Most of the girls were in shock. They couldn't believe that Walter helped her in front of many students looking at them.

"Aren't you afraid that you will get a lot of scandals by just helping me?"

"Am I forgiven?" Walter whispered. He gently lay her on the clinic bed as he looked at her with a worried look.

Leylah never said anything. She just looked at him. She wanted to talk about what happened.

"Thank you, Walter. I will just be taking care of her from here. You may go back to your class." He nodded as soon as she heard the nurse.

"Please text me using my old number," Leylah said as she held his hand. He let go of it and went outside without looking back at her nor a word from her. The nurse looked at her without any reaction at all, but Leylah knew what was in her mind already.

"Wow, why should Walter call you?" The nurse asked Leylah while treating her wounded knee and cheek.

"Nevermind, forget that I mentioned that a while ago."

"Yeah, no worries. I won't believe that, either. I know Walter has only a pure heart for all people, including someone like you." She even looked at her from head to toe.

Leylah noticed that the nurse was just five years older than her. Leylah realized that this nurse might be one of those girls who was infatuated with her boyfriend. She's not even surprised at all. She looked down when she realized that their school nurse was pretty, way far prettier than her. Leylah thought that maybe she had all the right to bully her, too.

"Thanks, nurse. I appreciate it." Leylah tried to get up from bed but the nurse stopped her.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I will go back to our class."

"How will you go back to class if you can hardly stand up and walk?"

"But nurse…"

"You have to stay here and I will call your teachers and even parents to let them know what has happened to you."

Leylah tried to get up when the clinic phone rang. The nurse answered right away.

“Yes, ma’am. She’s here.” She heard the nurse answering the phone as if confirming someone about her attendance at the clinic.

“W-Who was it?” She nervously asked.

“It was Mrs. Williams. And she wanted you to meet her after class in the faculty room later.”